Drawer-locking device



Nov. 15, 1927.

J. RITTER, JR., ET AL DRAWER LOCKING DEVICE Filed nec.1o. 1926 l1; 2L-

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Nav. 15, 1927. '1,649,188

. J. RITTER, JR., ET AL DRAWER LOCKING 'DEVICE Filed Dec. 10. 1926 2Sheets sheet 2 /f INWNToR.

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"uw my Patented Nov. 15, 1927.

Triana UNITED sTATes PATENT orifice.

JULIUS RITTER, JR., ANI)v MARIUS J. XVISBY, GF RACINE, WISCONSIN,ASSlGrN-ORS T0 HARTMANN TRUNK COMPANY, GF RECINE, WISCONSIN, A CRPOR-ATN01? VHS- CONSIN.

DRAWER-Z`JOCKING DEVICE.

Application filed December 1G, 1926. Serial No. 153,310.

This invention relates to improvements in trunk drawer locking devices.

Wardrobe trunks are usually formed in two sections, and one of saidsections is com monly provided with a drawer section in which aplurality of drawers are positioned, one Vabove the other. If noprovision is made for locking the drawers, they will slide back andforth and not maintain their position during transportation, and injurethe contents. s

It is, therefore., the primary obj ect of the present invention toprovide, in a. drawer equipped trunk, an improved means for locking allof the drawers in a series.

A further obj ect of the invention is to provide a trunk drawer lockingdevice in which the majority of the drawers in a series are locked by alocking member, and the remain ing drawer is locked by an independentlock, the locking` of the remaining drawer serving to prevent access tothe locking means for other drawers.

A further object of the .invention to provide, in a drawer equippedtrunk, `a locking means for some of the drawers which is hidden and isnot readily apparent to anyone tampering with the trunk.

A further object of the invention is to provide a trunk drawer lockingdevice which is of very simple construction, is easy and efficient inoperation, is strong and durable, and is well adapted for the purposedescribed.

With the `above and other objects in view, the invention consists of theimproved trunk drawer locking device, and its parts and combinations asset forth in the claims, Land all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying` drawing in which the same reference charactersindicate the same parts in all of the views:

Fig. 1 is a front view of the drawer section of a trunk, the two upperdrawers being removed;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the drawer section taken on lineQ-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. lshowing the locking means for some of the drawers;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view showing thelocking means and a drawer engaged thereby;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary crosssectional view through the drawer sectionand a plan view of a drawer therein showing the locking means for saiddrawer; and

Fig 6 is a. sectional view taken on line 6*(5 of Fig. 1, and on a largerscale.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings it will appear that thenumeral 8V indicates the drawer section of a wardrobe trunk which isprovided with a plurality of drawers 9 positioned one above the otherand slidably supported upon angled strips 10 mounted on opposite sidesof the trun I section. The upper drawer 9 is preferably provided with alock 11 and a key 12 controlling the same.

A plurality of brackets 13 are mounted medially in a vertical line onthe rear inner surface of said trunk section, and extending through saidbrackets is a vertically movable bar 14. Secured to the bar 14 at properintervals are angular fingers 15 which are formed with ribbed off-setportions 15', as best shown in Fig. 6.

Pivotally connected to the upper portion of the bar 14 is a short link16 which has pivotally connected thereto a second short linkl'. Abracket 13 is secured to the rear of the trunk section over said link 17and the inner end portion of a lever 1.8 is mounted in said bracket andis secured to said link 17 to actuate the same. Said lever 18 ext-endsat right angles to the bar and links and is revolubly mounted at itsouter end portion in a support 19 depending from a strip 2O secured toopposite sides of the trunk section. The lever 18, outwardly of thesupport 19. is bent atan angle to forma handle.

Each of the drawers 9 has secured to the lower portion of its rear wall,an outwardly projecting complementary lock member or bracket 21 which isdownwardly and inward* ly tapered, as shown in Fig. l6. Said bracketsare arranged so as to be immediately below and in register with thebrackets 13 when the drawers are pushed to their innermost positions.

In use, the drawers 9 are pushed to their inner positions and theangular handle portion of the lever 18 is turned to the position shownin Figs. 1 and 5 and motion will be transmitted thereby through thelinks 1G and 17 to the barvlll, dropping the same to its lowermostposition. In this position, the lingers 15 carried thereby will movedownwardly through the brackets 13 and enter the drawer brackets 21, asshown in Figs. 3, 4 and (S. Due to the. taper of the drawer brackets 21and the olf-set portions 15 of the fingers. the lingers, on entering thebrackets 9.1, will cause a wedging or drawing action. to force andfirmly hold the d 'awers in their inner positions. Also, the position ofthe brackets 13, immediately above the brackets 21, relieves the latter,as well as the fingers 15, from undue strain. `With the lever 18 in theposition indicated and described. the top drawer 9' may then be insertedand the same covers. conceals and prevents access to said lever. The topdrawer is locked by means of the lock 11 and key 12, and when so lockedthe drawers 9 thercbelow cannot', of course, be unlocked and opened.Even though the upper drawer be unlocked, the locking mechanism for theother drawers is hidden, and a person unfamiliar with the trunkmechanism cannot readily open said drawers.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the improved trunkdrawer locking -mechanism is of very simple and novel construction, andis well adapted for the purpose. described.

What is claimed as the invention is:

1. The combination with a trunk .section having a plurality of drawerspositioned one above the other, some of the drawers being formed attheir rear ends wit-h complementary locking members, of a locking meansfor said drawers, comprising a lock for one of the drawers, a barslidably mounted on the inner surface of the rear of the trunk sectionand having fingers which lockingly engage the complementary lockingmembers of the drawers so equipped, and a lever eX- tending from saidbar below said lock equipped drawer forwardly to the front edge of saiddrawer and movable to unlock said other drawers only when the lockequipped drawer is withdrawn from the trunk section.

2. The combination with a trunk section having a plurality of drawerspositioned one above the other, of a locking means therefor, comprisinga lock for thel upper drawer, downwardly and inwardly tapered bracketssecured to the rear portions of the lower drawers, a bar mounted on theinner surface of the rear of the trunk section and having intermediatefingers which enter said brackets to lock said drawers in closedposition, the bar being longitudinally movable. links pivotallyconnected to said bar. and an opcrating lever secured to and projectingl'orwardly from one of the links beneath the lock equipped upper drawerand operable to move the bar and lingers to unlocking position only uponthe withdrawal of the lock equipped dravv'er.

I. The combination with a truuk section having a plurality of drawerspositioned one above the other. ol a locking mcanfi therefor, comprisinga lock for the upper drawer. downwardly and inwardly tapered bracketssecured to thc rear portions of the lower drawers, a bar mounted inbrackets on thi` inner surface of thc rear of the trunk section andhaving intermediate fingers formed with oti'sct wedging portions whichenter raid drawer brackets to lock said drawers in closed position, thebar being vertically movable. a pair of pivotally connected linkspivotally connected to the upper portion ot the bar, and an operatinglever secured to and projecting forward from one of the. links andunderlying the upper drawer, said lever having an angular end portionmovable to a position wherein the har is raised and the lingersdisengaged from the. drawer brackets only upon the withdrawal of thcupper drawer from the trunk section.

4. The combination with a trunk section having a plurality of drawerspositioned one ala-ove the other, of a locking means therefor,comprising a lock for the upper drawer, downwardly and inwardly taperedbrackets secured to the rear portions` of thc lower drawers, al barmounted in brackets on the inner surface of the rear of the trunksection and having intermediate tingers formed with otfset wcdgingportions which cntcr .said drawer brackets to lock said drawers inclosed position, the bar being vertically movable, and an operatinglever projecting forwardly from said har beneath the lock equippeddrawer.

In testimony. whereof, we atlix our signatures.

JULiUs Rrr-Tar., n. MARIUS J. WlSBY.

